by J. Kenner
Earlier…
It’s time to say your prayers. Because the next sound you hear is going to be the blast of my gun.
The vile words rang in Devlin’s head, and he heard the truth of them. He almost kicked out, wanting at least to inflict as much pain as possible.
But he fought the urge, because he knew damn well that all that would happen to him is that he’d have his head blown off. But Brandy…
Well, Brandy would be tortured.
Now—oh, God, now—she wasn’t feeling pain. Fear, yes. Discomfort, sure. But not pain.
If Devlin fought back, though, he knew that Manny would cut her down and torture her. Flay her. Rape her. Burn her.
And he’d make Devlin watch.
Manny might not have said as much, But Devlin knew. He knew, because that’s what his father would have done.
And so he held back. Because without backup, there was no point in fighting back.
Manny stepped in closer, the muzzle moving to Devlin’s temple. “You think you’re so damn smart. But you won’t be after I splatter your brains against the wall. Now,” he said, then laughed when—goddammit all—Devlin flinched.
“You’re a fucking pussy,” he cackled. He actually cackled. “The great Devlin Saint’s a goddamn fucking pussy. Oh, man, if only your father could—”
Kablam!
For a split second, Devlin thought Manny had fired. Then he realized the truth—and he lifted his knees and thrust out hard. Manny had already turned away, the gun moving with him, and Devlin shifted his head as he kicked, and was gratified when the fucker went down, the gun flying from his hand.
Manny leaped back to his feet, then scurried into a darkened corner as the team burst into the room. Nearby, in connecting rooms and above, Devlin heard the battle play out. In this room, Devlin saw Ronan burst inside, followed by Lamar.
“Brandy!” Devlin called. “She’s injured.”
Ronan raced toward her as Lamar spun around, landing a rock solid kick in the chest of one of the thugs who had helped tie Devlin down.
Then Lamar was racing across the cavernous room toward Devlin and cutting him free.
“Ellie?”
“Outside,” he said. “She’s fine.”
“How did you find us?”
“Christopher,” Lamar said. “The little prick came through.”
From across the room, he could hear the team’s calls of clear! echoing through the house. Lamar’s radio sputtered, and Devlin listened as he got an update from Reggie. The house was clear, Manny’s men dead or captured.
But Manny himself was gone.
“This building is ancient. He’s got a thieves hole somewhere,” Devlin said. A tunnel that would see him clear of the property or a hiding place where he could stay until they cleared out. They’d find him, though. Devlin knew his team wouldn’t stop until they did.
“Brandy?” he asked as Ronan stood.
“Woozy. She’s lost a lot of blood, and we’ll get her checked out, but I bandaged the wound and she’s going to be fine. Come on, now,” Ronan said to her, his voice more gentle than Devlin had ever heard. “Put your arms around my neck.”
“I’m okay,” Brandy said. “Just feel lightheaded.”
“I’ve got you.”
“Thank you for coming,” she said, her eyelids sagging. “I really, really didn’t want to die.”
“No,” Ronan said. “That would have been bad.” He shot Devlin and Lamar a look that spoke volumes. Joy that they’d been rescued. Sadness at what they’d endured, especially Brandy.
“Let’s go,” Devlin said. “The rest of the team can finish the sweep.”
Ronan led the way to a stone corridor, a few shafts of light cutting into the dark from holes in a rickety wooden door. Lamar pushed it open, and Ronan went first, cradling Brandy. Devlin fell in step behind them, and Lamar followed, checking their perimeter as they moved into the open.
And then Devlin looked up and to the left, and he stopped dead in his tracks.
Ellie.
She met his eyes, and for that singular moment, all was right in the world. Then she turned around, and, to Devlin’s horror, he saw Manny on that same hilltop. And then, oh God, Manny raising a gun.
A blur of motion and then the sharp report of the weapon.
Devlin thought his heart would explode, then reality set in.
Ellie was still alive.
That blur he’d seen was Christopher—he’d taken the bullet meant for Ellie.
But Ellie was still up there, and so was Manny, and oh, Christ, the bastard had rushed forward and grabbed Ellie, and now he—
“Here!”
Devlin turned to find Lamar tossing him a gun. It wasn’t his piece. He didn’t know its accuracy.
But there wasn’t another choice and there wasn’t any time.
There was only one way out, and all Devlin could do was pray that when the dust settled, Ellie would be back in his arms.
Chapter Forty-One
I’m shaking.
Damn me, Christopher’s fallen at my feet, and I’m actually shaking and I hate myself for it. But I’m terrified. Really and truly terrified. Not of dying—that hasn’t scared me for a long, long time. But of not seeing Devlin again. Of losing this chance—having it ripped away from us—especially when he’s so damn close.
“You fucking little bitch,” the attacker snarls. “So you’re the sweet little cunt he’s taken a fancy to.”
I react from reflex, intending to run, but he lunges and grabs me, then yanks me to him. I stumble over Christopher, and my captor makes a show of sniffing my hair, then licks my cheek. “Smell good. Taste good. I see why he likes you. I’m sure he’s going to miss you.”
He starts to lift his gun and terror slashes through me again because I know damn well I only have seconds to live. Fear and loss and Devlin—Oh, God, Devlin.
Crack!
I feel the wet blood. The tissue. The sharp bits of bone.
I sway, disoriented. Confused.
But still alive.
Alive?
I reach up to feel my head. There’s slime in my hair and on my skin, but my head’s intact. Slowly, I look down. And then, damn me, I vomit all over the corpse of the baby-faced man who’d held me hostage.
There’s a hole in his eye, and the back of his skull has been ripped away. A hollow point bullet.
How?
My mind isn’t functioning, and I sink to my knees
It’s only then as I’m sitting there between two corpses that I realize what happened. I crawl to the edge of the cliff and look down into the valley. I’m searching for Devlin, but he’s not there.
He’s not there?
I start to climb up on my knees, and then I freeze. I hear limbs snapping and feet pounding, and I start to shrink away, searching for a hiding place, only to see the foliage shoved aside and Devlin burst into my line of sight.
“Ellie. Baby, baby, are you okay?”
He’s on his knees and I cling to him, crying now. Sobbing, actually, as the events of the day wash over me. I could have lost him. Hell, I could have lost myself. And yet here we are, alive. Blissfully alive.
“Brandy?”
He nods. “With Ronan. She’ll be fine. She lost some blood. He’s making her sip juice.”
I nod, trying to process that, but I can’t. All I can keep in my head is that they’re safe.
“Come on,” he says, helping me to my feet. “I’ll take you to her.”
He leads me toward one of the other SUVs. “You killed him. The one holding me. You shot him from all the way in the valley.”
“Manny,” he says flatly. “And I’m sorry.”
I blink, confused.
“It was risky. Downright foolish. I could have killed you if I’d been off—if the sight had been off—but I didn’t know what else to do, and I had—”
“You saved me,” I say firmly. “He would have killed me. We both know that.”
I’m starting to calm a bit, and I
pull him to a stop, his hands in mine. “Is it really over now?”
“Yeah. It’s really over.” He glances down, then lifts my hand, his finger going to the diamond solitaire on my left hand.
“Something you want to tell me?”
I choke back a laugh. “A talisman,” I say. “You couldn’t die on me if we were engaged. You’d never do that to me.”
He chuckles, and I think it’s the sweetest sound on earth. “Never,” he agrees. “But what happened to just dating for a while?”
I blink and smile, a teary mess. “I need you, Devlin. I need to claim you. I need it here,” I say, pressing my hand to my heart.
“Me, too,” he says softly.
“So maybe we can do the dating thing while we’re engaged.”
“Whatever you want, El. So long as you’re mine.”
“Always,” I say.
And then, with the entire team watching, I melt into the circle of his arms and lose myself in a long, slow kiss with the man I love.
Epilogue
The sun hovers over the horizon, making the Pacific glow. I’m on the edge of the patio at the foundation, gazing out toward the tidal pools and the vibrant ocean beyond.
“You look beautiful,” Devlin says, coming up beside me and taking my hand. “Like you’re bathed in fire.”
I tilt my head and look at him. The curve of his jaw, the battle scar on his face. “And you look like a warrior. But I guess you are.”
“I’ll always fight for you.”
“I know,” I say, leaning close as he puts his arm around me. Behind us, I hear the clink of glasses and conversation. It’s a party, after all, but I don’t feel guilty having Devlin to myself for these few minutes.
All too short, I think when I hear the click of heels approaching. But I smile when I look over my shoulder and see Tamra, the other guests at the small party mingling behind her. “You’re here!”
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she says, taking each of our hands. “And congratulations. When’s the big day?”
“Spring,” I say. “March.”
“And you’re excited?”
“Of course.” I smile up at Devlin. “We both are.”
He chuckles. “I’m not sure how happy I am to be even more in the spotlight, but I’m definitely happy for Ellie. And for the additional publicity for the foundation.”
I roll my eyes. Tonight’s party is a gathering of friends to celebrate my upcoming book, Saints and Sinners, which is already in production, and so far the advance reviews, preorders, and general buzz are excellent. People are pretty much lining up to read about The Wolf’s son turned philanthropist, not to mention the juicier bits like our lifelong romance and the kidnapping. We’ve even had calls from producers like Michael Holt, a very big deal in LA. Mostly though, I’m just excited to raise awareness for the foundation and all the good that Devlin does.
As we speak, Brandy and Lamar come over and join us. I expect Ronan as well, but he’s still by the fire pit, ostensibly talking with Reggie, a few of the other Angels, and Corbin, to whom I dedicated the book. After all, he’d suggested it.
Even though Ronan doesn’t join us, I see the way his eyes cut this direction. Or, rather, in the direction of Brandy.
I almost ask her if there’s something going on between them, but she seems entirely oblivious.
“Have you told Tamra the rest of it?” she asks, and I can see that she’s practically buzzing with the strain of keeping my secret.
Devlin chuckles, then lightly smacks my ass. “Someone broke our pact.”
“Brandy gets a pass,” I say. “Roommate rules.”
“Well, it is Brandy,” he says, and they share a smile. They’ve always gotten along, but since the horror in Big Bear, their friendship has really solidified, as has mine with Ronan. I glance his way again—wondering if he’s still looking toward Brandy—but he’s completely focused on Reggie. I frown. Maybe it was all my imagination?
“Ahem,” Tamra says. “The rest of it? What exactly am I missing out on?”
“Also missing out,” Lamar says, raising his hand in a way that make me chuckle. “I’d like my disapproval to be noted.”
I glance at Devlin, wondering if he wants to bring Ronan over to hear the news before we announce it officially next week. It’s clear he doesn’t, and I narrow my eyes, realizing that of course he’s already told Ronan, just like I told Brandy.
He meets my eyes, then bends and whispers, soft enough that only I can hear him. “We’ll punish each other later,” he says, making me choke back a burst of laughter.
When I can talk again, I take Devlin’s hand. “We have a date,” I say. “The Saturday after the book releases we’re getting married. Brandy’s my maid of honor, of course. But I was hoping you’d give me away?” I take Lamar’s hand.
“Ellie, are you kidding? Of course, I will.”
I smile at him, tearing up a bit, which is silly because I’m just not that sentimental. Then again, maybe I am.
I look to Tamra next, but it’s Devlin who speaks. “You’ve been as close to me as any mother could,” he says. “And it would be a great honor if you’d stand with us when we say our vows.”
“Oh.” I see the tears in her eyes, and then she nods. “Of course I will,” she says, looking between the two of us. “We’re family.”
I don’t realize I’m crying until I feel the tears running down my cheeks.
“Ellie?” Brandy says.
I squeeze Devlin’s hand and flash a teary smile at my friends—my family. “I’m okay, I say. I’m just happy.”
It’s more than that, though, and as I meet Devlin’s eyes, I know he understands. Once upon a time, I lost everything in this town. But now, with Devlin and the people I love, I have the world again.
* * *
Don’t miss Brandy and Ronan in Sinner’s Game!
Also by J. Kenner
The Fallen Saint Series
My Fallen Saint
My Beautiful Sin
My Cruel Salvation
Sinner’s Game
* * *
If you love Devlin and Ellie, be sure to check out JK’s Stark World books!
* * *
The Stark Saga
Meet Damien Stark in the award-winning and internationally bestselling series that started it all…
He’d pay any price to have her…
release me
claim me
complete me
take me (novella)
have me (novella)
play my game (novella)
seduce me (novella)
unwrap me (novella)
deepest kiss (novella)
entice me (novella)
anchor me
hold me (novella)
please me (novella)
lost with me
damien
indulge me (novella)
delight me (novella & bonus content)
cherish me (novella)
embrace me (novella)
enchant me
Stark reading order FAQ
* * *
Stark Security
Charismatic. Dangerous. Sexy as hell.
Shattered With You
Shadows Of You
(prequel to Broken With You)
Broken With You
Ruined With You
Wrecked With You
Destroyed With You
Memories of You (novella)
Ravaged With You
* * *
The Steele Books/Stark International:
He was the only man who made her feel alive.
Say My Name
On My Knees
Under My Skin
Take My Dare (includes short story Steal My Heart)
* * *
Stark International Novellas:
Meet Jamie & Ryan-so hot it sizzles.
Tame Me
Tempt Me
Tease Me
* * *
S.I.N. Tr
ilogy:
It was wrong for them to be together…
…but harder to stay apart.
Dirtiest Secret
Hottest Mess
Sweetest Taboo
* * *
Most Wanted:
Three powerful, dangerous men.
Three sensual, seductive women.
Wanted
Heated
Ignited
* * *
Stark World Stories:
Set in the Stark universe.
Wicked Grind
Wicked Dirty
Wicked Torture
Justify Me
* * *
The following series have occasional
Stark World Easter eggs
* * *
Man of the Month
Who’s your man of the month …?
Down On Me
Hold On Tight
Need You Now
Start Me Up
Get It On
In Your Eyes
Turn Me On
Shake It Up
All Night Long
In Too Deep
Light My Fire
Walk The Line
Royal Cocktail (bonus book)
* * *
*Bar Bites: A Man of the Month Cookbook
(by J. Kenner & Suzanne M. Johnson)
* * *
Blackwell-Lyon:
Heat, humor & a hint of danger
Lovely Little Liar
Pretty Little Player
Sexy Little Sinner
Tempting Little Tease
* * *
Even more from JK:
* * *
The Fallen Saint Series
His touch is her sin. Her love is his salvation
My Fallen Saint
My Beautiful Sin
